Proximate communication with a target device

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods may use proximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a target device. In one example, the method may include detecting the target device within a vicinity of a user device, receiving an information request response communication including information pertaining to the target device, and receiving an operation request response communication including information pertaining to a performed operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/723,153, filed Dec. 20, 2019, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/058,124, filed Aug. 8, 2018, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/494,653, filedApr. 24, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/991,668, filed Jan. 8, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,686,025 issuedJun. 20, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/819,930 filed Aug. 6, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,667,360 issuedMay 30, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/977,130 filed Sep. 16, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,125,006 issuedSep. 1, 2015, which is the National Stage of International ApplicationNo. PCT/US2012/031755, filed Mar. 31, 2012, and all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Embodiments generally relate to proximate communication with a targetdevice. More particularly, embodiments relate to utilizing proximatecommunication to retrieve information pertaining to a target device.

Discussion

A challenge with purchasing or using unfamiliar devices may be a user'sinability to access necessary information pertaining to the device. Forexample, when considering a purchase of a new device, a user may need toopen its packaging to determine whether the device works properly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various advantages of the embodiments of the present invention willbecome apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the followingspecification and appended claims, and by referencing the followingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a computing system forimplementing proximate communication to retrieve information pertainingto a target device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example of a method of implementingproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a computing system 100 thatutilizes proximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to atarget device is shown. The computing system 100 may include a userdevice 200 and a target device 300. The user device 200 and the targetdevice 300 may be coupled to a network 400, such as the Internet.

The user device 200 may be any device capable of communicating with atarget device. For example, the user device 200 may be, among otherthings, a mobile device (e.g., a mobile/smart phone, a personal digitalassistant, a smart tablet device), a notebook computer, or a desktopcomputer. In this example, the user device 200 is a smart phone. Theuser device 200 may include, for example, a user device memory 201, auser device processing component 204, a user device transceiver 205, auser device interface 206, and a user device power source 207.

The user device memory 201 may be any memory device that may be used tostore data. The user device memory 201 may include a target deviceinterface application 202 and a target device configuration application203.

The target device interface application 202 may be utilized to interfacewith the target device 300. For example, as will be discussed in greaterdetail, the target device interface application 202 may be configured togenerate a detection communication to detect the presence of the userdevice 300 and generate an identity inquiry communication requestinginformation pertaining to the identity of a target device (e.g., makeinformation, model information, etc.). In addition, the target deviceinterface application 202 may also be configured to generate aninformation request communication in order to request information (e.g.,technical specifications, user manuals, assembly instructions, careinstructions, etc.) pertaining to the target device 300, and generate anoperation request communication pertaining to an operation be performedon or by the target device 300.

The target device configuration application 203 may be utilized to,among other things, configure various aspects of the target device 300according to the user's preferences. For example, the target deviceconfiguration application 203 may be utilized to, among other things,configure preferences, options, or features. These preferences, options,or features (or the like) may pertain to, among other things, targetdevice operation (e.g., establishing a remote connection) or targetdevice security (e.g., establishing a password or PIN/personalidentification number).

The user device processing component 204 may include at least onecomputer processor configured execute computer-readable executableinstructions. For example, the user device processing component 204 mayexecute software applications, such the target device interfaceapplication 202 and the target device configuration application 203.

The user device transceiver 205 may be a transmitter/receiver thatenables the user device 200 to wirelessly communicate with other devices(e.g., target device 300). The user device transceiver may be active(i.e., coupled to a power source) or passive (i.e., not coupled to apower source). In this embodiment, the user device 200 and the targetdevice 300 may communicate wirelessly via Radio-frequency identification(RFID) protocol, wherein the user device transceiver 205 may be anactive transceiver coupled to the user device power source 207. In thisembodiment, the user device power source 207 may be an on-board battery.

In other embodiments of the present invention, communication may takeplace via near field communication protocol, a wireless data connection(e.g., IEEE 802.11, 1999 Edition, LAN/MAN Wireless LANS (WiFi), IEEE802.16-2004, LAN/MAN Broadband Wireless LANS (WiMAX), Bluetooth (e.g.,IEEE 802.15.1-2005, Wireless Personal Area Networks), Zigbee (IEEE802.15.4), etc.), a cellular telephone connection (e.g., W-CDMA (UMTS),CDMA2000 (IS-856/IS-2000), a wired data connection (e.g., RS-232(Electronic Industries Alliance/EIA), Ethernet (e.g., IEEE 802.3-2005,LAN/MAN CSMA/CD Access Method), power line communication (e.g., X10,IEEE P1675), USB (e.g., Universal Serial Bus 2.0 Specification)), etc.,depending upon the circumstances.

The user device 200 may also include the user device interface 206,which may allow a user to interact with the user device 200. In thisembodiment, the user device interface 206 may be a smart phone displayscreen displaying a graphical user interface (GUI).

Turning now to the target device 300, the target device 300 may includeany device configured to communicate with the user device 200. Forexample, the target device 300 may be a mobile smart phone, a flatscreen television, a notebook computer, a digital camera, an appliance,a smart tablet, or any other device about which one may wish to gainadditional information. In this embodiment, the target device 300 is aflat screen television. The target device 300 may include, for example,a target device transceiver 301, a target device response component 302,and a target device memory 304.

Similar to the user device transceiver 203, the target devicetransceiver 301 may enable the target device 300 to communicate viavarious communication protocols with other devices, such as the userdevice 200. In this example, the target device transceiver 301 may be apassive device utilizing RFID. That is, the target device 300 may notneed to be powered on by an external power source in order tocommunicate with the user device 200.

The target device response component 302 may include an electroniccomponent configured to, among other things, generate a response to acommunication from the user device 200. In this embodiment, the targetdevice response component 302 may include a microcontroller 303 that hasa firmware component. In other embodiments, the target device responsecomponent 302 may include an application, a processing component, anapplication-specific integrated circuit, a logic array, a fieldprogrammable gate array, or the like.

The target device memory 304 may be a memory device that may be used tostore data. For example, the target device memory 304 may store a firsttarget device information item 305, a second target device informationitem 306, and a target device query application 307.

Examples of the target device information items 305, 306 may includemake information, model information, user manuals, assemblyinstructions, care instructions, technical specifications, or the like.In this embodiment, the first target device information item 305 may bethe make and model information of the target device, and the secondtarget device information item 306 may be a technical specificationdocument.

The target device query application 307 may be executed (e.g., by thetarget device response component 302) to generate information pertainingto the target device 300. Examples of the target device queryapplication 307 include a power-on self test (POST), a built-in selftest (BIST), a dead-pixel test, or any other application or routine thatmay be executed to generate information pertaining to the target device300. In this embodiment, the target device query application 307 is aPOST routine.

Accordingly, as will be discussed in greater detail, in response toreceiving a detection communication from the user device 200, the targetdevice transceiver 301 may (passively) originate a detection responsecommunication to indicate the presence of the target device 300.

Also, in response to an identity inquiry communication from the userdevice 200, the target device response component 302 may access thefirst target device information item 305, and generate an identityinquiry response communication (to identify the target device 300) fortransmission to the user device 200. The identity inquiry responsecommunication may include the make and model information (i.e., from thetarget device information item 305).

Similarly, upon receipt of an information request communication from theuser device 200 requesting a technical specification of the targetdevice 300, the target device response component 302 may access thesecond target device information item 306, and generate an informationrequest response communication, including the technical specificationdocument, for transmission to the user device 200.

In addition, upon receipt of an operation request communication from theuser device 200 requesting that an operation be performed on or by thetarget device 300, the target device response component 305 may generatean operation request response communication including informationpertaining to the operation to be performed on the target device. Forexample, in response to an operation request communication from the userdevice 200, the target device response component 305 may access thetarget device query application 307, execute the POST, and generate anoperation request response communication including the results of thePOST for transmission to the user device 200.

The arrangement and numbering of blocks depicted in FIG. 1 is notintended to imply an order of operations to the exclusion of otherpossibilities. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that theforegoing systems and methods are susceptible of various modificationsand alterations.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the user devicememory 201 includes the target device interface application 202 and thetarget device configuration application 203. However, in otherembodiments, the target device interface application 202 may include thefunctionalities of the target device configuration application 203, anda separate target device configuration application may not present atall.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a flowchart of an exemplary method of proximatecommunication to exchange information pertaining to a target deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Themethod might be implemented as a set of logic instructions stored in amachine- or computer-readable storage medium such as random accessmemory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), firmware,flash memory, etc., in configurable logic such as, for example,programmable logic arrays (PLAs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), infixed-functionality logic hardware using circuit technology such as, forexample, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), complementarymetal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or transistor-transistor logic (TTL)technology, or any combination thereof. For example, computer programcode to carry out operations shown in the method may be written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the likeand conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages.

In this example, a user may encounter a flat screen television ofinterest, such as the target device 300 (FIG. 1), at a retail store. Theuser may utilize a smart phone, such as user device 200 (FIG. 1), tocommunicate wirelessly with the target device via RFID.

The method begins at processing block 2000. At processing block 2010, auser may download and open/invoke a target device interface application,such as the target device interface application 202 (FIG. 1). Atprocessing block 2020, the target device interface application maytransmit, using a user device transceiver, such as the user devicetransceiver 205 (FIG. 1), a detection communication to detect thepresence of the target device. At processing block 2030, a target devicetransceiver, such as the target device transceiver 301 (FIG. 1), mayreceive the signal, and transmit a detection response communication toindicate the presence of the flat screen television.

At processing block 2040, upon receiving the detection responsecommunication from the target device, the target device interfaceapplication may generate an identity inquiry communication requestinginformation pertaining to the identity of a target device (e.g., makeand model information) for transmission to the target device.

At processing block 2050, the target device transceiver may receive theidentity inquiry communication. At processing block 2060, a targetdevice response component, such as the target device response component302 (FIG. 1), may access a target device memory, such as the targetdevice memory 304 (FIG. 1), to retrieve the target device make and modelinformation, such as the first target device information item 305 (FIG.1). At processing block 2070, the target device response component maygenerate an identity inquiry response communication including the targetdevice's make and model information for transmission to the user device.At processing block 2080, the target device transceiver may transmit theidentity inquiry response communication to the user device.

At processing block 2090, upon receiving the identity inquiry responsecommunication, the target device interface application may generate adisplay message for display on the user device interface, such as theuser device interface 206 (FIG. 1). The message may ask the user toverify that the identified flat screen television is indeed the targetdevice of interest to the user.

At processing block 2100, after receiving verification from the user,the target device interface application may generate a display messageinquiring whether the user may want additional information pertaining tothe target device. At processing block 2110, the user may request atechnical specification. At processing block 2120, the target deviceinterface application may generate an information request communicationrequesting the technical specification from the target device. Atprocessing block 2130, the user device may transmit the informationrequest communication.

At processing block 2140, upon receiving the information requestcommunication, the target device response component may access thetarget device memory to retrieve a technical specification, such as thesecond target device information item 306 (FIG. 1). At processing block2150, the target device response component may generate an informationrequest response communication including the technical specification fortransmission to the user device. At processing block 2160, the targetdevice may transmit the information request response communication tothe user device. At processing block 2170, the user device may receivethe information request response communication, and the user may viewthe technical specification document on the user device interface.

At processing block 2180, the user may request, through the targetdevice interface application, that the target device run a power-on selftest (POST). In response, at processing block 2190, the target deviceinterface application may generate a message to the user inquiringwhether the flat screen television is powered on. At processing block2200, after the flat screen television has been powered on, the targetdevice interface application may make a preference inquiry regarding theuser's preferences (e.g., content, format) regarding the returnedresults from the POST. At processing block 2210, upon receiving theuser's preferences, the target device interface application may generatean operation request communication, including the user's preferences, torequest that a POST be run on the target device. At processing block2220, the user device may transmit the operation request communicationto the target device.

At processing block 2230, upon receiving the operation requestcommunication, the target device response component may access thetarget device memory to retrieve a POST routine, such as the targetdevice query application 307 (FIG. 1), and execute it. At processingblock 2240, the target device response component may gather results fromthe executed POST, and generate an operation request responsecommunication that includes the results of the test according to theuser's preferences. At processing block 2250, the user device mayreceive the operation request response communication, and the user mayview the results of the POST on the user device interface. At processingblock 2260, the process may terminate.

The sequence and numbering of processing blocks depicted in FIG. 2 isnot intended to imply an order of operations to the exclusion of otherpossibilities. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that theforegoing systems and methods are susceptible of various modificationsand alterations.

For example, in the embodiment described above, after receiving theoperation request response communication at the user device, the userviews the results (i.e., processing block 2250), and the processterminates (i.e., processing block 2260). However, in other embodiments,a target device interface application may be configured to receive andrespond to any question. So, for example, upon receiving a communicationfrom the target device (e.g., an operation request responsecommunication, etc.), a user may have a question regarding the meaningof a particular term used in the results of a POST. In this case, thetarget device interface application may communicate with the targetdevice, a coupled device, or a network, such as the Internet 400 (FIG.1), to retrieve an answer to the user's question.

Alternatively, for example, upon receiving a target device informationitem, such as a technical specification, the user may inquire whetherthe retrieved version is the latest version. In response, the targetdevice interface application may be configured to communicate with anycoupled device to determine whether the retrieved version is the latest.

Embodiments may therefore involve a method of proximate communication toretrieve information pertaining to a target device, comprising detectinga presence of the target device in a vicinity of a user device,transmitting an identity inquiry communication to the target device, andreceiving an identity inquiry response communication identifying thetarget device. The method may also provide for transmitting aninformation request communication including a request for informationpertaining to the target device and receiving an information requestresponse communication including a response to the request forinformation pertaining to the target device. In addition, the method mayalso provide for transmitting an operation request communicationpertaining to an operation to be performed on the target device andreceiving an operation request response communication includinginformation pertaining to the operation to be performed on the targetdevice.

In one example, the method may include invoking a target deviceinterface application stored in a memory of the user device.

In another example, the target device interface application generatesone or more of the identity inquiry communication, the informationrequest communication, and the operation request communication.

In another example, the method may also provide a preference inquirypertaining to the information pertaining to the operation to beperformed on the target device.

In still another example, the method may include transmitting adetection communication to detect the presence of the target device.

In another example, the target device and the user device utilizeradio-frequency identification (RFID).

In another example, the target device and the user device utilizenear-field communication.

In yet another example, the operation request communication includes auser response to a preference inquiry.

Embodiments may also include at least one machine readable mediumcomprising a plurality of instructions that in response to beingexecuted on a computing device, cause the computing device to carry outany of the examples of the aforementioned method, an apparatus forproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice, comprising a transceiver and logic configured to perform any ofthe examples of the aforementioned method, and a system for implementingproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice comprising a user interface, a transceiver, and logic configuredto perform any of the examples of the aforementioned method.

Embodiments may therefore involve a method of proximate communicationusing a target device to retrieve information pertaining to the targetdevice, comprising receiving a detection communication from a userdevice, transmitting a detection response communication to indicatepresence of the target device, and receiving an identity inquirycommunication from a user device. The method may also provide fortransmitting an identity inquiry response communication to identify thetarget device, receiving an information request communication includinga request for information pertaining to the target device from the userdevice, and transmitting an information request response communicationincluding a response to the request for information pertaining to thetarget device. In addition, the method may also provide for receiving anoperation request communication pertaining to an operation to beperformed on the target device from the user device, and transmitting anoperation request response communication including informationpertaining to the operation to be performed on the target device.

In another example, the method may include invoking a target deviceresponse component included in the target device.

In another example, the target device response component includes one ormore of a processing component, an application-specific integratedcircuit, a logic array, a field-programmable gate array, or amicrocontroller.

In still another example, the target device response component generatesone or more of the identity inquiry response communication, theinformation request response communication, and the operation requestresponse communication.

In yet another example, the method may include accessing one or more ofa target device information item and a target device query applicationstored on a target device memory of the target device.

In another example, the target device information item is one or more ofmake information, model information, a technical specification, a usermanual, assembly instructions, and care instructions.

In another example, the target device query application is one or moreof a power-on self test, a built-in self test, and a dead pixel test.

In another example, the target device and the user device utilizeradio-frequency identification (RFID).

In still another example, the target device and the user device utilizenear-field communication.

Embodiments may also include at least one machine readable mediumcomprising a plurality of instructions that in response to beingexecuted on a computing device, cause the computing device to carry outany of the examples of the aforementioned method, an apparatus forproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice, comprising a transceiver and logic configured to perform any ofthe examples of the aforementioned method, and a system for implementingproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice comprising a user interface, a transceiver, and logic configuredto perform any of the examples of the aforementioned method.

In addition, embodiments may also include a method of proximatecommunication to retrieve information pertaining to a target device,comprising transmitting an identity inquiry communication to the targetdevice, transmitting an information request communication including arequest for information pertaining to the target device, andtransmitting an operation request communication pertaining to anoperation to be performed on the target device.

In another example, a target device interface application generates oneor more of the identity inquiry communication, the information requestcommunication, and the operation request communication.

In another example, the method may include providing a preferenceinquiry pertaining the information pertaining to the performedoperation.

In another example, the method may provide for transmitting a detectioncommunication to detect the presence of the target device.

In still another example, the user device utilizes radio-frequencyidentification (RFID).

In yet another example, the user device utilizes near-fieldcommunication.

Embodiments may also include at least one machine readable mediumcomprising a plurality of instructions that in response to beingexecuted on a computing device, cause the computing device to carry outany of the examples of the aforementioned method, an apparatus forproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice, comprising a transceiver and logic configured to perform any ofthe examples of the aforementioned method, and a system for implementingproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice comprising a user interface, a transceiver, and logic configuredto perform any of the examples of the aforementioned method.

Embodiments may also include a method of proximate communication toretrieve information pertaining to a target device, comprisingtransmitting a detection response communication to indicate presence ofthe target device and transmitting an identity inquiry responsecommunication to identify the target device. The method may also providefor transmitting an information request response communication includinga response to the request for information pertaining to the targetdevice, and transmitting an operation request response communicationincluding information pertaining to the operation to be performed on thetarget device.

In another example, the target device includes a target device responsecomponent, and wherein the target device response component generatesone or more of the identity inquiry response communication, theinformation request response communication, and the operation requestresponse communication.

In another example, the target device includes a target device memory,wherein the target device memory includes one or more of a target deviceinformation item and a target device query application.

In still another example, the target device utilizes radio-frequencyidentification (RFID).

In yet another example, the target device utilizes near-fieldcommunication.

In another example, the target device information item is one or more ofmake information, model information, a technical specification, a usermanual, assembly instructions, and care instructions.

Embodiments may also include at least one machine readable mediumcomprising a plurality of instructions that in response to beingexecuted on a computing device, cause the computing device to carry outany of the examples of the aforementioned method, an apparatus forproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice, comprising a transceiver and logic configured to perform any ofthe examples of the aforementioned method, and a system for implementingproximate communication to retrieve information pertaining to a targetdevice comprising a user interface, a transceiver, and logic configuredto perform any of the examples of the aforementioned method.

Embodiments may therefore provide an apparatus comprising a processingcomponent, a transceiver, and an identity inquiry module to transmit anidentity inquiry communication to the target device. The apparatus mayalso include an information request module to transmit an informationrequest communication including a request for information pertaining tothe target device and an operation request module to transmit anoperation request communication pertaining to an operation to beperformed on the target device.

Another embodiment may provide an apparatus, comprising a transceiver, amemory component including one or more of a target device informationitem and a target device query application, and a detection responsemodule to transmit a detection response communication to indicatepresence of the target device. The apparatus may also provide an inquiryresponse module to transmit an identity inquiry response communicationto identify the target device, a request response module to transmit aninformation request response communication including a response to therequest for information pertaining to the target device, and a operationresponse module to transmit an operation request response communicationincluding information pertaining to the operation to be performed on thetarget device.

Still another embodiment may provide a system comprising a user deviceincluding a processing component, a transceiver, a memory component, andan identity inquiry module to transmit an identity inquiry communicationto the target device. The user device may also include an informationrequest module to transmit an information request communicationincluding a request for information pertaining to the target device andan operation request module to transmit an operation requestcommunication pertaining to an operation to be performed on the targetdevice. The system may also include a target device including atransceiver, a memory component including one or more of a target deviceinformation item and a target device query application, and a detectionresponse module to transmit a detection response communication toindicate presence of the target device. The target device may alsoprovide an inquiry response module to transmit an identity inquiryresponse communication to identify the target device, a request responsemodule to transmit an information request response communicationincluding a response to the request for information pertaining to thetarget device, and a operation response module to transmit an operationrequest response communication including information pertaining to theoperation to be performed on the target device.

It will be evident to persons having the benefit of this disclosure thatvarious modifications and changes may be made to these embodimentswithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the embodimentsdescribed herein. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing descriptionthat the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present inventioncan be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while theembodiments of this invention have been described in connection withparticular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of theinvention should not be so limited since other modifications will becomeapparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings,specification, and following claims.

In addition, in some of the drawings, signal conductor lines arerepresented with lines. Some may be thicker, to indicate moreconstituent signal paths, have a number label, to indicate a number ofconstituent signal paths, and/or have arrows at one or more ends, toindicate primary information flow direction. This, however, should notbe construed in a limiting manner Rather, such added detail may be usedin connection with one or more exemplary embodiments to facilitateeasier understanding. Any represented signal lines, whether or nothaving additional information, may actually include one or more signalsthat may travel in multiple directions and may be implemented with anysuitable type of signal scheme, e.g., digital or analog linesimplemented with differential pairs, optical fiber lines, and/orsingle-ended lines.

Example sizes/models/values/ranges may have been given, althoughembodiments of the present invention are not limited to the same. Asmanufacturing techniques (e.g., photolithography) mature over time, itis expected that devices of smaller size could be manufactured. Inaddition, well known power/ground connections and other components mayor may not be shown within the figures, for simplicity of illustrationand discussion, and so as not to obscure certain aspects of theembodiments of the invention. Further, arrangements may be shown inprocessing block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring embodiments ofthe invention, and also in view of the fact that specifics with respectto implementation of such block diagram arrangements are highlydependent upon the platform within which the embodiment is to beimplemented, i.e., such specifics should be well within purview of oneskilled in the art. Where specific details are set forth in order todescribe example embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent toone skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention can bepracticed without, or with variation of, these specific details. Thedescription is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

The term “coupled” may be used herein to refer to any type ofrelationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question,and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical,electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition,the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used herein only to facilitatediscussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronologicalsignificance unless otherwise indicated.

Several features and aspects of embodiments of the present inventionhave been illustrated and described in detail with reference toparticular embodiments by way of example only, and not by way oflimitation. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that alternativeimplementations and various modifications to the disclosed embodimentsare within the scope and contemplation of the present disclosure.Therefore, it is intended that the invention be considered as limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A target device for sharing a resource, comprising: atransceiver; at least one processor; and at least one memory device,including instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the at least one processor to: emit adetection signal from the transceiver; receive, in response to theemitted detection signal, a discovery request communication from asource device; store the received discovery request communication in theat least one memory device; transmit, via the transceiver, a response tothe received discovery request communication, the response includinginformation about an identity of the target device; receive aninformation request communication from the source device; transmit, viathe transceiver, a response to the information request communication,the response to the information request communication including aconfiguration for the target device; receive, in response totransmitting the response to the information request communication, acommand from the source device wherein the command invokes an operationto be performed on the target device based on the configuration; andexecute the command on the target device.
 2. The target device of claim1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: provide apreference inquiry to a user of the target device pertaining to theoperation to be performed on the target device.
 3. The target device ofclaim 2, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:transmit, via the transceiver, a user response to the preference inquiryto the source device.
 4. The target device of claim 1, wherein thetarget device includes an interface to communicate with the targetdevice, a coupled device, or a network to perform an operation.
 5. Thetarget device of claim 4, wherein the instructions further cause theprocessor to: transmit, via the transceiver, a result response to thesource device, the result response including a result of executing thecommand.
 6. The target device of claim 1, wherein the operation to beperformed on the target device is at least one of: an operation forestablishing remote access to the target device from the source device,an operation for the target device to run a power-on-self-test, creationof a password or a personal identification number, a firmware update, ora built-in-self-test.
 7. The target device of claim 1, wherein thediscovery request communication from the source device is a signal fromthe source device to the target device responsive to the emitteddetection signal to detect a presence of the target device.
 8. Thetarget device of claim 1, wherein the information about an identity ofthe target device includes at least one of: a make of the target device,a model number of the target device, a serial number of the targetdevice, an operational status of the target device.
 9. The target deviceof claim 1, wherein the response to the information requestcommunication further includes a technical specification of the targetdevice or a user guide for the target device.
 10. The target device ofclaim 1, wherein the transceiver is a passive radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) device.
 11. A method comprising for proximatecommunication between a source device and a target device, the methodcomprising: emitting a detection signal from a transceiver coupled tothe target device; receiving, in response to the emitted detectionsignal, a discovery request communication from the source device;storing the received discovery request communication in at least onememory device included in the target device; transmitting, via thetransceiver, a response to the received discovery request communication,the response including information about an identity of the targetdevice; receiving an information request communication from the sourcedevice; transmitting, via the transceiver, a response to the informationrequest communication, the response to the information requestcommunication including a configuration for the target device;receiving, in response to transmitting the response to the informationrequest communication, a command from the source device wherein thecommand invokes an operation to be performed on the target device basedon the configuration; and executing the command on the target device.12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing a preferenceinquiry to a user of the target device pertaining to the operation to beperformed on the target device.
 13. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: transmitting, via the transceiver, a user response to thepreference inquiry to the source device.
 14. The method of claim 11,wherein the target device includes an interface to communicate with thetarget device, a coupled device, or a network to perform an operation.15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: transmitting, via thetransceiver, a result response to the source device, the result responseincluding a result of executing the command.
 16. The method of claim 11,wherein the operation to be performed on the target device is at leastone of: an operation for establishing remote access to the target devicefrom the source device, an operation for the target device to run apower-on-self-test, creation of a password or a personal identificationnumber, a firmware update, or a built-in-self-test.
 17. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the discovery request communication from the sourcedevice is a signal from the source device to the target deviceresponsive to the emitted detection signal to detect a presence of thetarget device.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the information aboutan identity of the target device includes at least one of: a make of thetarget device, a model number of the target device, a serial number ofthe target device, an operational status of the target device.
 19. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the response to the information requestcommunication further includes a technical specification of the targetdevice or a user guide for the target device.
 20. At least onenon-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a set of instructions,which when executed by at least one processor of a target device, causethe at least one processor to perform operations to: emit a detectionsignal from a transceiver coupled to the target device; receive, inresponse to the emitted detection signal, a discovery requestcommunication from a source device; store the received discovery requestcommunication in at least one memory device included in the targetdevice; transmit, via the transceiver, a response to the receiveddiscovery request communication, the response including informationabout an identity of the target device; receive an information requestcommunication from the source device; transmit, via the transceiver, aresponse to the information request communication, the response to theinformation request communication including a configuration for thetarget device; receive, in response to transmitting the response to theinformation request communication, a command from the source devicewherein the command invokes an operation to be performed on the targetdevice based on the configuration; and execute the command on the targetdevice.
 21. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 20, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:provide a preference inquiry to a user of the target device pertainingto the operation to be performed on the target device.
 22. The at leastone non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein theinstructions further cause the processor to: transmit, via thetransceiver, a user response to the preference inquiry to the sourcedevice.
 23. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 20, wherein the target device includes an interface to communicatewith the target device, a coupled device, or a network to perform anoperation.
 24. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable mediumof claim 23, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:transmit, via the transceiver, a result response to the source device,the result response including a result of executing the command.
 25. Theat least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 20, whereinthe operation to be performed on the target device is at least one of:an operation for establishing remote access to the target device fromthe source device, an operation for the target device to run apower-on-self-test, creation of a password or a personal identificationnumber, a firmware update, or a built-in-self-test.
 26. The at least onenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein thediscovery request communication from the source device is a signal fromthe source device to the target device responsive to the emitteddetection signal to detect a presence of the target device.
 27. The atleast one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 20, whereinthe information about an identity of the target device includes at leastone of: a make of the target device, a model number of the targetdevice, a serial number of the target device, an operational status ofthe target device.
 28. The at least one non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 20, wherein the response to the information requestcommunication further includes a technical specification of the targetdevice or a user guide for the target device.